Ventilated block wall



M. D. MURPHY 2,868,010

VENTILATED BLOCK WALL Jan. 13, 1959 Filed Nov. 4. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1IN V EN TOR. flaw W 66* AM Jan. 13, 1959 MURPHY VENTILATED BLOCK WALL 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I. U 1 1 I. v I. 4 v .r 7 AL d .5 h r z 1 .b m .4 1 tr...

Jamal? File d Nov. 4, 1954 United States Patent VENTILATED BLOCK WALLMarion D. Murphy, West Palm Beach, Fla.

Application November 4, 1954, Serial No. 466,793 1 Claim. (Cl. 72-127)This invention relates to improvements in ventilators for walls providedwith air spaces, particularly concrete cell block walls, and method ofventing said walls.

Prior art practices have provided air passages in walls, but have beenmoisture trapping; and, the prior art devices were expensive, requiringmany parts, and failed to provide proper inter-cell circulation of air.

An object of this invention is to provide ventilators for 'walls of thetype described, which may be easily inserted in face-bed mortar jointduring construction to provide vertical and perimeter ventilation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a positive draftventilation through all the cells of a concrete cell block wall.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the classdescribed employing a minimum of parts, which may be fabricated byunskilled labor.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a ventilator ofthe class described which will be simple and inexpensive inconstruction, easily and conveniently installed, and efficient anddurable in use.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will bemore clearly understood from reading the following specification inconjunction with the drawings forming a part thereof, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a corner joinder of concrete cell blockwalls, parts removed and broken away, showing the invention in use;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a first stage corner construction showing theair intake ventilator elements in position on the first row of cellblocks;

Fig. 3 is vertical cross-sectional view of a cell block wall employingthe ventilators of this invention;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ventilator, takenon line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing insect barrier and moisture-proof airpassage;

Fig. 5 is transverse cross-sectional view of the insect barrier in themoisture-proof air passage, taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the intake ventilator with aircirculation extension member;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the exhaust ventilator; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the air intake member in awall, taken along line 88 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings wherein like members are given the samereference numeral, the numeral 1 designates conventional footings uponwhich conventional concrete cell blocks 2 are laid in course; the uppercourse being capped by a perimeter or limited beam 3, usually pouredreinforced concerete, having anchor bolts 4 for rafter beams 5.

Air intake and exhaust ventilators, 7 and 8 respectively, are positionedin the wall as shown. They are the same in general design, differing inwidth; the intake ventilator 7 covers a position of the block cell, topermit air circulation, and the exhaust ventilator 8 covers the cell toprevent further circulation.

1 2,868,010 Patented Jan. 13, 1959 The intake ventilator 7, placedpreferably over the first row of cell blocks, has an elongatedchannel-shaped body 10, and perpendicular thereto an outwardly extendingchannel-shaped projection 11 having the outer end 12 thereof benddownward at an angle, preferably 30 to 60. The channel-shaped body 10and projection 11 are in the same plane, and may be formed by molding,stamping or drawing according to conventional practices. The height orthickness of the channel-shaped member, however, is less than thethickness of a face-bed mortar joint, so that no weight is placed uponthe ventilator member, the Weight being distributed through the mortarjoint.

To provide complete perimeter ventilation, the member having intakeprojections 11 preferably may be positioned to place an intakeprojection every 36 to 48 inches, with a channel-shaped connector 14joining the members to provide a continuous air passage. Theseconnectors 14 may abut the main body 10 of the air intake member; orpreferably, as illustrated, the connector 14 telescopes over the bodymember 10.

A novel and efiicient insect barrier or guard is provided for the airintake and exhaust projections 11 and 11, respectively, providing apress-fit, hand tight, saddle bracket 16, having the legs 17 thereofabutting the downward flanges 18 of the projections 11 and 11', toanchor mesh or screen material 19 across the external opening of theprojection member.

The intake ventilator members 7 may be used beneath the lintel beam 3,or U-blocks in a conventional manner, for air exhaust ventilator member8, with the lintel beam or U-block capping the cells of the upper courseof blocks. Experience has taught, however, that it is better to use asimilar shaped channel member differing from the intake member 7 inwidth to substantially cover the cells of the'block. Accordingly theelements of the exhaust ventilator are designated channel-shaped body10; outwardly extending channel-shaped projection 11 having a downwardlyturned outer end 12; and channelshaped connectors 14'.

The body member 10 and 10, and connectors 14 and 14' are mitered toprovide corner joinders, as illustrated in Figs.-l and 2, as indicatedat 20 and 20 respectively.

The parts of the devices of this invention may be fabricated in anyconventional manner of suitable rigid material. It is preferred,however, to stamp the parts from sheet aluminum.

In installation, the intake members 7 with connectors 14 are positionedover the first course of blocks, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, withthe channel portion facing down. The second course of blocks is thenplaced, using a face-bed mortar joint, as is the conventional practice.The mortar joint is thicker than the channel-shaped intake member. Onthe final course of blocks the exhaust members 8 and connectors 14' arepositioned and the perimeter beam 3 poured.

In use, air enters the intake projections 12, see Fig. 3, is carriedupward through the cells-and around the perimeter by the connectors 14,and exhausts through exhaust projections 12 having perimetercommunication through the connectors 14.

By this invention there is provided an economical means for effectingpositive draft through all the cells of a wall, resulting in a dryinterior and cooler construction.

The invention has been described in detail, but it is understood thatthe invention is not so limited; changes can be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in theappended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 18:

A ventilated Wall comprising a plurality of courses of vertically cored'ce'mentitious blocks'havirrg 'mortarjoints' between said courses, alintel beam secured to the top course of said blocks, and a pair ofperipherally positioned ventilating devices positioned Within the saidnrortar joints, one of said devices comprising a plurality of spaceunrestricted channel-shaped members having an outwardly extendingchannel-shaped projection on each of said members communicating with theatmosphere and the core of said blocks over which positioned,channelshaped connectors forming continuous pheripheral air passageswith said members by telescopingly engaging said members, saidchannel-shaped members and connectors being peripherally positioned overthe vertical cores in a course of said blocks near the bottom of saidwall, the second set of said devices peripherally positioned in a mortarbed between the top course of said blocks and said lintel beam ofsai'dwall, and said channel-shaped 4 members and connectors having athickness less than the thickness of'tlrem'ortai-"bedin'wh'tc'hpositioned'.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,024,276 Nash Apr. 23, 1912 1,858,803 Burks a; May 17, 1932 2,657,570Moore Nov. 3, 1953 2,703,002 Suskind Mar. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS240,344- Switzerland Apr. 1, 1946 Box 506, 5016 S. Dixie, West PalmBeech, Florida, received Feb. 9, 1951.

